The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-11-15
THE TOMB or GARFIELD.
Description OF the New Memorial
Building at Cleveland, o.
Correspondence Of the Press. /

Correspondence OF the Press.
Yesterday we stood in the suburbs Of the
City Of Cleveland, Ohio, In what Is called
Lake View Cemetery" 1t was one Of
those rare days in autumn, so we'll known to
us as "Indian Summer" days. The sky was
cloudless, serene and blue. The atmosphere
which otherwise would have been oppres-
sively warm, was tempered by a most timely
breeze. At our feet, before and behind US,
stretched beautiful sheets Of water, upon
whose ripping bosoms fOated In nonchalant
splend0r, snow white swans, rendering By
their noiseless motion, feeling Of ealmness
and repose. At our right hand In plain
sight through the iron gates Of the receiving
tomb. on a black dais. lay the metallic easket
that contains all that is mortal Of our hon
ored and lamented, James A. Garfield. Low
cring above us In the foreground, was that
beautiful, massive structure, the Garfield
Memorial Building fit emblem Of nations
grief, and a nations love. The remains OF
Garfield were removed from the Sehodeld
tomb TO their present resting place "the gen.
eral receiving tomb" in the early spring.
and the guard Of soldiers removed.
There they will doubtless remain until the
memorial to which / have already referred.
shall have been prepared for their reception.
This Memorial Building is made Of Berea
sandstone which with its slightly plnkish
tint, gives pleasure TO the eye as 1t rears its
beautiful proportions against the azure Of the
sky.
The building proper is circular, IS feet In
diameter and $50 feet high. with turret
upon either side, and towards the front, in
which are winding stairs that lead TO CALLER
les above. The main entrance to the build
ing Is covered with an immense pOrtieO, the
top Of which being fifteen feet wide and
thirty feet long, and rallied all around, af-
fords an easy. promenade, from which 10
obtain a fine view Of the Lake and City.
This view Is the more extended since the
building Is located upon the highest point Of
ground accessible at that place. Upon the
sides and face Of this portico and directly
above the arches that lead TO the dOOrways,
are paneled five representative scenes.
shown in ''bas relief one each on the north
aud south side and three on the west.
The first on the north depicts Garfield as
school teacher. He Is shown standing be-
hind his desk with arm raised. Some Of the
pupils are at their desks, others at the black
board, while few are seated at their teach
er's feet, evidently as punishment for some
misdemeanOr. The next scene represents
the delivering Of the despatch sent to Gen.
No. 3 the central scene Immediately
over the main entrance, Il the finest OF all.
This shows Garfield standing erect, the cen
trail figure, and in the foreground, quelling
the mob at the time of the riot in New York
City, while the ruffians crowd around him
with clenehed fists and fierce countenanees.
Number 4 Is taking the oath OF Ofiiee with
Arthur at his side, while number repre-
sents the lying in state Of the remains, with
old men and young men, women and chill
dren erowding through the corridor, almost
it would seem upon their tip-tOes. taking
their last longing look at their Nations
Idol"
But let us enter the building for a moment.
As we pass through the main entrance, II
we keep straight on we come to narrow
door. Entering this we come TO Memorial
Hail." Towering above Us eighty feet Is
dome, the river face Of which Is to be gold
leaf. Immediately below the arch Of the
dome is TO be frieze three feet wide, repre-
senting the funeral eortege of Garfield. Be-
meath this frieze are eight arches formed by
as many columns made from the red beach
granite Of Maine. In the center Of this hall
directly beneath the dome Will be bronze
statue Of Garfield nine feet high.
The wainscOat Of the hall VIII be OF Afri-
can marble. the walls and floors will be laid
In mosaic, while statuary VIII MI the panels.
The hall will be lighted by thirteen stained
glass memorial windows representing the
thirteen original States. Underneath the
spot where will stand the statue IS now the
vault which IS TO receive the remains, reached
by winding stairs in the turrets and accessi-
BILE to the public at large.
Ascending from the Memorial Hall AZ steps
bring us TO a gallery running around the
hall. "a steps take us TO the balcony over
the entrance. n steps to a second gallery,
and l24 steps to large room In the top OF
the building and directly over the dome OF
Memorial Hall Of which we have already
spoken. This room is to be relic room.
The building has been two years In process
of erection. One year more will be required
for its completion. Thousands Of people
and hundreds Of carriages were vending
their way 10 and from this memorable place.
Proud should be the city that holds such a
treasure within its reach. Certainly a more
magnificent memorial we never have seen
IL does honor to us as American citizens, In
that it so grandly honOrs him who so nobly
h0nOred us. w. w. COLE.